The government has taken a firm stand against the deaths and abuse experienced by Filipino workers in Kuwait.

Following the suspension of new employment certificates, the Department of Labor and Employment will now issue a total ban on deployment to Kuwait.

The order will be released on February 12, according to a report by GMA News Online.

Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the order came from President Rodrigo Duterte.

"This time, what the president wanted is a total deployment ban," said Bello.

Once the order is effective, Filipino workers who are currently on vacation in the Philippines will no longer be allowed to return to Kuwait.

Workers with new contracts who haven't left yet will also not be allowed to go to the Arab country.

It is not clear, however, if the new order will affect Filipinos who are currently still working in Kuwait.

Other details of the deployment ban will be released tomorrow.

On Friday night, Duterte asked Filipino workers in Kuwait to return home in 72 hours.

The president even said he will seek assistance from airlines to give free flights to those who want to go back to the Philippines.

According to DOLE, the offer are for OFWs in Kuwait who are distressed, given amnesty, or simply want to come back home.

"Yung (order) to go home in 72 hours, that covers those who want to come home, it involves the 2,000 more or less na covered ng amnesty ng Kuwait. 'Yung mga in distress," said DOLE spokesperson Raul Francia.

The ban comes after numerous news of abuse and death of Filipinos at the hands of their Kuwaiti employers.

Seven OFWs died recently are being assisted and investigated by the government.

According to Gulf News, at least 103 OFWs died in Kuwait in 2017 and 82 died in 2016.

There are around 260,000 OFWs in Kuwait. Most of them are household service workers.

An estimated 10,800 are undocumented.

Learn about the inspiring story of Cheneleng Pili, who was able to reach her dreams through hard work and determination.

Road to success: I cried a hundred times - makeup artist and business owner Cheneleng Pili - on KAMI YouTube Channel